Gymnastics Advances to NCAA Super Six

April 15, 2016, 03:55 PM (CT)
Updated: April 16, 2016, 04:34 PM (CT)

The Super Six starts Saturday at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

LSU Athletics Creative Services

Jake Terry (@LSUjake)
Associate SID

FORT WORTH, Texas – For the fifth time in program history the third-ranked LSU gymnastics team advanced to the NCAA Super Six after the Tigers placed second in NCAA Semifinal I Friday afternoon in Fort Worth Convention Center Arena.

LSU improved to 27-5 overall after scoring a 197.3375, the second-highest team total at the NCAA Championships in school history.

No. 2 Florida (25-2) won the semifinal with a 197.4750, and No. 10 Georgia (15-15) finished third with a 196.7250.

LSU, Florida and Georgia earned spots in the Super Six that will begin at 8 p.m. CT Saturday. The trio will be joined by the top three finishers from Semifinal II - Oklahoma, Alabama and UCLA.

The Tigers will have the same rotation in the Super Six by starting on the bye before bars and rotating to bars, beam, bye, floor and vault.

The Super Six will be televised live by ESPNU.

“It’s been a great year for us, and the enthusiasm our team had today was incredible,” LSU head coach D-D Breaux said. “I am so proud of the effort they gave, and now we are looking forward to the Super Six where we can just relax and compete with reckless abandon.”

With wins over Georgia, Stanford, Auburn and Minnesota, Breaux crossed the 700-win threshold as her record improved to 702-415-8 in 39 seasons.

LSU was solid throughout the meet, posting a 49.3250 on bars, 49.3000 on beam, 49.3750 on floor and 49.3375 on vault.

Stanford placed fourth in the semifinal with a 195.575, while Auburn was fifth at 195.100 and Minnesota was sixth at 194.9875.

Individually, Myia Hambrick won the floor title in the semifinal with a 9.925, and she placed second in the all-around with a 39.5625.

Ashleigh Gnat finished second on vault with a 9.925, third on beam with a 9.90 and sixth in the all-around at 39.500.

Sarah Finnegan earned a 9.90 on bars to tie for third place in the semifinal.

In the third rotation, LSU exploded for a stellar 49.300 on beam, the second-highest beam total at the NCAA Championships in school history. Gnat led the squad with a 9.90 from the anchor spot on beam, and she was followed closely by Erin Macadaeg and Hambrick who each tallied 9.875’s. Finnegan was right behind them with a 9.85, and Sydney Ewing closed out scoring with a 9.80.

After a bye in the fourth rotation LSU returned to post a 49.3750 on floor in the fifth rotation. Hambrick tallied a 9.925 to lead the team and win the event in the semifinal. Jessica Savona earned a 9.8875, and Gnat followed with a 9.875. McKenna Kelley secured a 9.8625, and Randii Wyrick posted a 9.8250.

In the final rotation LSU finished with a 49.3375 on vault, led by Gnat’s 9.925 that placed second in the semifinal. Hambrick was next with a 9.875, followed by Ewing and Finnegan with 9.85s. Savona rounded out the scoring with a 9.8375.

Hambrick came close to winning a national title as she placed second overall on floor with a 9.925 and third in the all-around with her 39.5625. Gnat also finished third overall on vault with a 9.925. Gnat also placed seventh on beam and the all-around. Finnegan earned fourth place nationally on bars.